Printing press



March 5, 1935. H, B, w|LLETT 1,993,232

PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Shea? l A TTORNEYS.

March 5, 1935. H. B. WILLETT PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY m;

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Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PRINTING PRE S S Harry B. .Willett, Application August 24,

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a printing press and more particularly to a web fed job press.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable web feed and cutoff 5 for a job press by means of which job printing may be rapidly done upon a web of paper or other stock which is then cut to size. The invention is particularly useful for multi-color printing, since two or more colors may be printed at a single stroke of the platen and the printing time required for hand sheet feeding of the additional colors is saved.

One feature of the invention resides in the form of web feeding mechanism by means of which an accurate step by step feed is obtained which is easily adjustable as to length and which may be accurately timed with the movement of the platen.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means by which the web may be fed with sufficient accuracy to permit it to be run through the press twice for printing on both sides with an accurate register of the printed matter on the two sides.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following description and. claims. Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the press with the cutoff mechanism removed to show other parts in detail. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with certain parts cut away. Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a portion of the web feed mechanism. Fig. 4 is an elevational vew of the cutoff mechanism. Fig. 5 is an elevational view of an alternative form of one of the feeding members, Fig. 6 is anv elevational view of an alternative form of a portion of the web feeding mechanism.

In the drawings there is shown, by way of illustration, a job press having a frame 10 carrying a type bed 11 in the usual manner and having the usual ink plate 12 and ink distributing discs 13. The discs 13 are shown herein as two in number and each may be supplied with a different color of ink for two-color printing. Ihey are rotated step by step in the usual manner by mechanism not shown. Ink rollers 14 are used to transfer the ink from the discs 13 to the type and are moved in the conventional manner by mechanism not. shown. The press is provided with the usual platen 15 hingedly mounted on a shaft 16 carried by suitable bearings on the frame 10.

A motor 17 is mounted adjacent to the frame 10, on a common bed plate if desired, and carries a pulley 18 driving, by means of a belt 19, a sec:

Indianapolis, Ind. V

1933, Serial No. 686,479 (01. 101-197) 0nd pulley 20. The pulley 20 is mounted on a shaft 21 carried by a bracket 22 in turn mounted upon the frame 10 A fly wheel 23 is also mounted upon the shaft 21 and said shaft also carries a worm 24 driving a worm wheel 25. The worm wheel 25 is mounted upon a crank shaft 26 supported in suitable bearings upon the frame 10. The shaft 26 is provided with cranks 27' and a crankpin 28 upon which there is mounted a connecting rod 29, the lower end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 30 to a rearwardly extending portion 31 of the platen structure. A counterweight 32 is also carried by said portion 31 and serves to counterbalance the weight of the platen proper. It will be apparent that the construction just described provides means by which the motor 27 continuously rotates the crank shaft 26 and, through the crank and con.- necting rod structure, operates the platen to move the same against the type and retract the same therefrom in the usual manner.

A spool 33 carried by a shaft 34 fixedly mounted on suitable bearings 35 carries a roll 36 of paper or other stock upon which it is desired to impress the printed matter A web of paper37 is fed from the roll 36 across the platen and is resiliently held in position thereon by means of leaf springs 38 and isaccurately located thereon by means of guide members 39. The shaft 16 is extended at either side of the frame 10v and at one side thereof has mountedthereon a bar 40 and at the other side a bar 41. The said bars carry at their outer ends a pair of parallel rods 42 which are also supported upon brackets 43 directly mounted upon the platen, The bars 40 and 41 and the brackets 43 also carry a third rod 44 which serves as a strengthening member for increasing the stiffness of the unitary structure formed by the said bars and rods. It will be seen thatthe structure just described oscillates upwardly and downwardlyabout the shaft 16 with the movements of the platen.

A block 45 is slidably mounted upon mamas 42 which form a guideway therefor. Said block has mounted thereon a socket 46 which acts as a retainer for a ball 47 and forms therewith a. ball and socket universal joint. The ball 47 is mounted upon the end of a rod 48 extending obliquely upward and to the left. A shaft, 49' is supported upon suitable hearings in a pair of upward exchine. The shaft 49 has adjustably mounted thereon a collar 52 having a stem 53 upon which there is pivotally mounted a block 54. The block 54 has an opening therein through which the rod 48 extends and the said opening is preferably sufiiciently large to permit a limited universal movement in addition to that obtained by the pivotal mounting of the block 54. The rod 48 carries collars 55 and 56 adjustably fastened thereon and which serve to limit the travel of the rod 48 through the said block. By means of this construction, when the platen is raised during the printing operation, the rods 42 and the block 45 are raised therewith thus moving the rod 48 through the block 54 until the collar 55 engages the block. Further movement of the platen toward printing position then causes theblock 45 to slide to the right along the rods 42. As the platen is returned to its lower position the rod 48 is drawn through the block 54 until the collar 56 engages the said block. Further movement of the platen to its full open position causes the block 45 to be drawn to the left along the rods 42. It will be seen, therefore, that the alternate movements of the platen result in alternate movements of the block 45 to the right and left along the rods 42 and that the rod 48 sliding through the block 54 together with the collars 55 and 56 constitute a lost motion connection by means of which the length of the travel of the block 45' and the timing of said travel may be adjusted by varying the positions of the said collars upon the rod 48. a

The block 45 carries fixedly attached thereto an arm 5'7 extending beneath the web of paper 3'7. The arm 5'7 has pivotally connected thereto, by means of a bolt 58, a second arm 59 extending approximately parallel therewith and above the web 3'7. Thearm 59 is provided with a rearward extension 60 carrying a roller 61 while the arm 5'7 is provided with a rearward extension 62. A lever 63 is pivotally'mounted upon the arm 5'7 and carries an inclined trackway 64 which may be interposed between the roller 61' and the extension 62 of the arm'5'7. When the said lever is moved to the left, referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the trackway 64 acts as awedge between the said roller and the extension 62 to force the roller upwardly and thus to force the arm 59 downwardly toward the web. When the lever 63 is moved to the right, the inclined trackway 64 is withdrawn from between" the said roller and extension and the arm 59 is raised by means of, a tension spring 65 interposed between the arm extensions 60 and 62.

One of the rods 42 carries an arm 66' adjustably secured thereto which in turn carries an adjustable stop screw 67. The rod 42 also carries a second arm 68 in turn carrying a second adjustable stop screw 69. The saidscrews are positioned in the path of travel of a lug '70' mounted on the lever 63. The stop screws 6'7 and69 are so adjusted that each engages the lug '70 at or near one end of the travel of theblock 45. Thus, when the block is moved to the right, the said lug strikes the screw 6'7] causing the lever '63 to be moved to the left to force the arm 59 downwardly. When the block is moved to the left, the lug '70 strikes the screw 69', moving. the lever 63 to the right and permitting the arm 59 to be raised.

The arm 59 carries a pin '71 so positioned as to engage one of a series of holes '72 in the web of paper 37. The said pin is of. sufficientlength to enter a suitable hole in the arm 5'7 so that the webof paper is securelyretained thereon. In the upward movementof the. platen the block 45 is-movedto the right as previously described, carrying with itthe' arms 5'7 and 59 to the proper position for the pin '71 to engage one of the holes '72. At the end of this movement, the lug '70 strikes screw 6'7 and the said pin is forced downwardly into the hole. The downward movement of the platen then causes the block 45 to be moved to the left, thus drawing the web of paper forwardly a distance equal to the length of movement of the said block. At or near the end of this movement the lug '70 strikes the end of the screw 69 permitting the arm 59 to be raised to disengage the pin 71 from the paper.

The spaced holes '72 and pin '71 are used only when it is desired to print both sides of a paper.

The said holes may be punched in the paper by a suitable punch 8'7 mounted upon the type bed at the time of printing the first side and are thus in accurate register with the rinted matter. When the web is run through again for printing theopposite side, the spacing of the holes '72 determines the stopping point for each printing operation and cumulative errors in advancing the web which would destroy the register of the printed matter are prevented. When it is desired to print on one side only, the holes '72 are omitted and the arm- 59 is replaced by an arm 59a having a roughened lower surface 595 (see Fig. 5). The said surface may be formed of sand paper, emery cloth or other suitable material for fricticnally engaging the web for drawing it forward or may be cut or kmu'led in the face of the arm.

The portion of the web 37 to the left of the arms 57 and 59 passes over a table '73 secured to and movable with the bar 41. The said web is guided on said table by guide members '74-. A knife blade '75 is secured to the edge of the bar 41 and co- 1 operates with an arcuate knife blade '76 for cutting the web into'sheets. The blade '76- is pivotally mounted at its lower end on the shaft 16 and at itsupper end is connected by apin '77 to the end of an eccentric rod '78 connected toor formed integrally with an eccentric strap '79. The strap '79 surrounds an eccentric mounted on the crank shaft 26 which shaft is extended for the purpose and finds a bearing in the standard 51. By means of this construction, it will be apparcut that the blades '75 and '76- act as a pair of shears to sever a sheet from the web as theplaten is raised to printing position.

The eccentric 80 is so positioned on the shaft 26 that it advances the upper end of the blade '76 during the cutting operation and begins to retract the same promptly on completion of the said operation. For certain sizes of sheets, the blade '76 may be fixed in a stationary position and the eccentric 80' omitted. For relatively long sheets; however, it is' necessary to commence'the advancing movement. of the web as soon as possible' after the printing is complete in order that the movement may be completed during the downward movement. of the platen. In such cases, it is necessary that the blade 76 be retracted from its engagement withthe web as rapidly as possible since the forward movement of the web cannot commence until the blade '76 is disengaged from the same. It is for this purpose that the eccentric 80 is used and it is properly placed upon the shaft 26to retract the blade 76 asrapidly as possible after the cuttingv operation is complete. The sheets severed-from. the wehfall upon. a pile 81 from which theymay. beremoved from time to time for packing.

Whenever printing isto be done on.both sides of the web, the blade '76 is removed. during. the first printing. and the web 3'7 is. wound. upon a spool similar to the spool 33 which is suitably mounted-at the left side of the machine. "Upon completion of the printing on one side, the said spooland the web carried thereby are placed upon the supports 35, the blade '76is' placed in position and the-Web isrun through "for the sec-' and printing and the sheets are cut to size.

For printing certain sizes of sheets, the length of movement of the block 45 'isrequired to' be greater than can be securedwith a givenmovement of the platen. To increasethe length' of movement of the block 45 for these exceptional cases, a construction is used, a portion of which is'sh'own in Fig.6; An eccentric 82-is mounted upon the crank shaft 26 and has associated there-I with an eccentric strap 83 and an eccentric rod 84. The upperend of said rod is connected by a pin 85 to a relatively short averse keyed upon the shaft 49. The shaft 49 is thus oscillated by rotation of the crank shaft 26. The collar 52, stem 53 and block 54 carried upon the said shaft are thusoscillated'with'the shaft. 'I'-he' cam 82 is so placed on the shaft 26'that the oscillations of the block 54 arein proper timed relation to increase the movement of the -*-rod 48 and thusto increase the movement of the block 45. It is evident that with this arrangement-thelength of travel of the block 45 may be made as long as desired, additional increases in the travel'being secured byincreasing the length of the stem 53.

The invention claimed is: a l 3 1. In a printing press having anoscillating platen, the combination of a guide'way'movable with said platen, a member movable along said guideway, mechanism connected to said member 5 and operating to move the same in one direction during the movement of said platen to printing position and in the'opposite direction during the retraction movement thereof, web engagingmembers carried by said movable member, and mechanism operating said last mentioned members and moving the same to engage a web of stock during the movement of said movable member in one direction fordrawing said web across said platen. 2. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the combination of a guideway movable with said platen, a member movable along said guideway, mechanism connected to saidmember and operating to move the samein one direction during the movement of said platen to printing position and in the oppositedirection during the retraction movement thereof, web engaging members carried by said movable member; and mechanism operating said last mentioned meme bersand moving the same to engage a'webof stock during the movementof said movable member in one direction'for drawing said web across said platen, said last-mentioned mechanism freeing the same from said web during movement in the opposite direction. a

' 3. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the combination of a guideway-movable with said platen, a member movable along said guideway, mechanism connected to said member and operating to move the same in one direction during the movement of said platen to printing position and in the opposite direction during the retraction movement thereof, web engaging members carried by said movable member, and mechanism engageable with said last mentioned members and moving the same to engage a web of stock for drawing the same across said platen in the retractive movement thereof.

4. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the combination of a guideway movable with said platen, a member movable along said guideway, mechanism connected to said member and operating to move the same in one direction during the movement of said platen to printing position andin the opposite direction during the L retraction movement thereof, web engaging mem bersc'arried by said'movablemember, and mechanismengageable with said last mentioned members and moving the same to engage a web of stock for drawing the same across said platen in the "retractive movement-thereof, said last mentioned mechanism freeing said web engaging members from said web during the printing stroke of said'platen. v

5'. In a'printing press having an oscillating platen, the combination of a guideway mcvable' with said platen, a member movable along said guideway, mechanism connected'to said member and operating to move the same in one direction during the movement of said platen to printing position and in the opposite direction during the'retraction movement thereof, a pair of arms carried by said movablemember and extending on opposite sides of a web of stock trained across said platen, a stop member mounted along said guideway, and a device carried by said movable member in positionto be engaged by saidstop member adjacent the end of the printing stroke.

of'said platen, said device when so engaged operating to cause said arms to engage said stock for drawing the same across said platen in the retracting stroke thereof.

6. Inaprinting press having an oscillating platemthe combination of a guideway movable with said platen, a member movable along said guideWa-Yfmechanism connected to said member and operating to move the same in one direction during the movement of said platen to printing position and in the opposite direction during the retraction movement thereof, a pair of arms carried by said movable member and extending on opposite sides of a web of stock trained across said platen, a stop member mounted along said guideway, a device carried by said movable member in position to be engaged by said stop' member adjacent the end of the printing stroke of said platen, said device when soengaged "operating to cause'said arms to engage said stock for drawing the same across said platen in the retracting stroke thereof, and a second stop member positionedto engage said device'adjacent the end of said retractivestroke, said'device when so engaged causing saidarms to free said web.

7. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the; combination of a guideway movable with said'platen, a member movable along said guideway, mechanism connected to said member and operating to move the same in one direction during the movement of said platen to printing positionand in theopposite direction during the retraction movement thereof, a pair of arms carried by "saidmovable member and extending on opposite sides of a web of stock trained across said platen, said armsbeing relatively movable in one direction to engage said web and in another direction to free the same, yielding means tending to move the same in one of said directions, wedging means interposable between portions of said arms to move the same in the other direction, and stop members positioned along said guideway to engage said wedging means in the movement of said movable member for interposing the same between said arm portions and for retracting the same therefrom.

8. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the combination of a guideway movable with said platen, a member movable along said guideway mechanism connectedto said member and operating to move the same in one direction during the movement of said platen to printing position and in the opposite direction during the retraction movement thereof, and mechanism carried by said movable member and operable when said member ismoved in one direction to engage a web of stock for drawing the same over said platen and operable when said member is moved in the other direction to free said web;

9. In a printing press' having an oscillating platen, the combination of a guideway movable with said platen, a member movable along said guideway, a stationary support, an element carried upon said stationary support, a connecting member connected tosaid movable member :at one end and engaging said element adjacentits opposite end, wherebyoscillation of said platen causes movement of said movable member backward and forward along said guideway, and web engaging members carried by said movable member and adapted to engage a web of stock for drawing the same over said platen in the movement of said movable member in one direction.

10. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the .combination of aguideway movable with said platen, a member movable along said guideway, a stationary support, a pivotally mounted element carried upon said stationary support, a connecting member universally connected at one end to said movable member and having a lost motion connection at its opposite end with said pivotally mounted member, whereby oscillation of said platen causes movement of said movable member backward and forward along said guideway, and web engaging members carried by said movable member and adapted to engage a web of stock for drawing the same over said platen in the movement of said movable member in one direction.

11. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the combination of a guideway movable with said platen, a stationary support, a mem ber movable along said guideway, a second member carried upon said stationary support, a connecting element universally connected to one of said members and having a lost motion connec tion with the other of said members, whereby oscillation of said platen causes movement of said movable member backward and forward along said guideway, and web engaging members carried by said movable member and adapted to engage a web of stock for drawing the same over said platen in the movement of "said movable member in one direction.

12. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the combination of a guideway movable with said platen, a member movable along said guideway, a stationary support, a pivotally mounted element carried upon said stationary support, a rod universally connected at one end to said movable member and passing through an opening in saidpivotally mounted element, abut mehts carried on said rod for limiting its motvement through said opening, whereby oscillation of said platen causes movement of saidmovable member backward and forward along said guideway, and web engaging members carried by said movable member andadapted to engage a web of stock for drawing the same over said platen in-the movement of said movable member in one direction H V i 13. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the combination of a guideway movable with said platen, a stationary support, a member movable along said guideway, a second member carried upon said stationary support, a connecting element universally connected to one of said members and having a lost motion connection with the other of said members, whereby oscillation of said platen causes movement of said movable member backward and. forward alongsaidguideway, web engaging members car'- rideby said movable member and adapted to engage a web of stockfor drawing the same over said platen in the movement of said movable member in one direction, and means for moving said second member upon. its support in timed relation with the movement of the platen for increasing the movement of said movable mem-'- ber and web engaging members.

14. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the combination of 'a guideway movable with said platen, a stationary support, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support, an arm carried by said shaft, a member movable along said guideway, a second member carried by said arm, a connecting element universally connected to one of said members and having a lost motion connection with the other of said members, whereby oscillation of said platen causes movement of said movable member backward and forward along said guideway, web engaging members carried by said movable member and adapted to engage a web of stock for drawing the same over said platen in the movement of said movable member in one direction, and means for oscillating said shaft in timed relation with the movement of said platen for increasing the movement of said movable member and web engaging me'mbers.-

15. In a printing press having an oscillating platen, the combination of means for drawing a web of stock step by step to successive printing positions on said platen, a shear blade movable with said platen and positioned-to receive the web after leaving said platen, a second shear blade having a pivotal mounting substantially coaxial with the axis of oscillation ofthe platen,- and means for moving the same about said mounting in timed relation with the movement of said platen to cooperate with said first blade in shearing a sheet from said web during the printing movement of the-retracting movement thereof.

HARRY B. WILLET'I'. 

